This publication was developed within the Regional Network for Street Involved Children and at Risk Children (RNSIC), supported by Save the Children Italy. Authors of the study are Prof. Dr. Veronika Duci and Assoc.Prof. Izela Tahsini. The field research was conducted and organized by members of RNSIC: “The Initiative for Social Services” (ARSIS), Tirana, Albania; “National Association Education for Life Association” (SHKEJ), Tirana, Albania; “Žene sa Une”, Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina; “Vermont”, Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina; “Centre for Children’s Rights of Montenegro”, Podgorica, Montenegro; “Centre for Youth Integration” (CIM), Belgrade, Serbia “Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization” (EHO), Novi Sad, Serbia;
The aim of the study was to look deeply at the phenomenon of “children living and working on the street and children at risk of street involvement ” in countries covered by RNSIC activities. It was built on two components,
quantitative and qualitative and it was conducted in 4 different countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. The quantitative component aimed to assess the situation of vulnerable families of
street involved children and children at risk, while the qualitative component focused on identifying the gaps and needs in service provision for these children.
A total of 1062 households were encompassed by the research (103 in Albania, 300 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 150 in Montenegro and 509 in Serbia). The qualitative component consisted of 7 focus group discussions with the
participation of a total of 71 relevant stakeholders. Data was collected in Tirana (Albania), Bihać and Brčko (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Belgrade and Novi Sad (Serbia) and Podgorica (Montenegro). Data collection and analysis were conducted during June and July 2016.
The recommendations of the study include:
Creating a common definition of the phenomenon at country level;
Addressing the situation of children through interventions which focus on a case management, multidisciplinary and inter-sectorial approach of all relevant stakeholders;
Creating integrated data management systems;
Undertaking further research in order to better understand the situation of these children and the factors underlying the phenomenon in each country;
Enable effective steps to be undertaken to tackle it